The importance of school trips

Written by chris rowling| 13/05/2017

School trips are a vital part of student development away from the classroom. (school bus image by Lombok from Fotolia.com)

Field trips are normally high on the list of school childhood memories. The trips give students the chance to escape the day-to-day school environment and visit places where learning continues just without the blackboard and tests. Unfortunately, in recent years this type of learning has had to take a back seat due to worries over child safety. Many teachers still advocate the importance of this element of learning.

Real World Applications

Sitting at a desk in school all day is seen as the standard form of education. Unfortunately, children do not necessarily react well in this environment due to shorter attention spans. Getting children out of the classroom and into the real world is vital for them in understanding how society works. This includes taking children to businesses and factories where they can see how what they learn in school is being used every day.

Having Fun

For many children going to school is not infectious, as they would rather be at home watching television or playing video games. Getting children out of the classroom is more stimulating and encourages them to take an interest in a new topic and pay attention to a new educational experience.

Learning Outside the Classroom

Field trips are not just about having fun and not being at school, they also have an educational benefit. One of the most common school trips is to science museums that teach children the application of physics and chemistry in an environment unobtainable in school. Many museums are now becoming more interactive in a bid to encourage younger children to take an interest in sciences.

Conclusion

While classroom-based learning is not likely to be changed in the near future, the school trip is still a vital part of the educational experience. A child sitting in a classroom may think, "When am I ever going to use algebra or need to understand biology?" But take them out of the classroom and into the real world and they will start to understand the applications of the subjects they are being taught. Yes, there are safety issues but the benefit to the students is immeasurable.